good lighting the candle-lanterns on the harbour marks until we are close to. Besides, you’ll want them in the camp. You’d better not put them on the marks until you hear us give the owl call. Then you’ll know it’s us, and not an enemy. I say, Titty, do you think you really can manage by yourself?”
“Of course I can. But do hurry up, or they might slip past you in the islands, and I couldn’t manage both the Amazons by myself.”
“They won’t have had time with the wind against them,” said John, “but we ought to get away at once.”
“Come along,” said the boy.
They went back into the camp.
“Rations all ready, sir,” said Mate Susan. “I’m taking a big bottle of milk for us. We’ll put it in the bilge to keep cool. And I’m leaving a small bottle for the able-seaman. She’ll be making tea for herself. Mind you don’t let the fire go out, Titty,” she added. “If you want to go to sleep, you cover it up with earth, like the charcoal-burners. It’ll be cold at night.”
“I’m not going to sleep,” said Titty. “I shall watch by the camp fire, shrouded in my cloak.”
“Roger,” said Mate Susan, “go into your tent and put on two pairs of everything.”
“Everything?” said Roger.
“Everything,” said the mate. “Two vests, two pairs of drawers, two shirts, two pairs of knickerbockers, two pairs of stockings.”
“I can’t put on two pairs of shoes,” said Roger.